Nevertheless, the title is a good choice for zoo enthusiasts and as a first step for players new to Tycoon sims. [Mar 2008, p.88]

And would it have been that hard to include direct character control instead of using a remote-only point-and-click interface? [Mar 2008, p.86]

It doesn't quite live up to the historic pairing of gaming's two biggest icons, but then again, not much could. [Feb 2008, p.88]

As promising as this Lost-meets-Animal Crossing premise sounds, however, the game as a whole becomes a bit tedious. [Feb 2008, p.87]

Hardcore action gamers shouldn't let this one sit on the shelves. [Mar 2008, p.85]

The game's absence of goals won't please everyone. If you want drama, suspense, and action, you'll have to look elsewhere. [Feb 2008, p.87]

If there were anything like the gaming equivalent of comfort food, Advance Wars would be it. [Feb 2008, p.86]

For all the flair and weirdness of Furu Furu Park, the real meat of the product -- the minigames -- ends up being a thin and unimpressive experience.

Samurai Warriors: Katana is fun, and makes good use of the Wii's motion controls without being tiring. [Jan 2008, p.87]

The makers of Excitebike 64 return to the motocross circuit with a disappointing wreck of a Wii game. [Feb 2008, p.89]

While Harvey Birdman looks and sounds authentic, and the game's bizarrely offbeat stories (custome made for the game) will keep you entertained, there's not much happening in the gameplay department. [Jan 2008, p.89]

As with the original " Sonic Riders", a large segment of the gaming populace will likely fine Zero Gravity immensely frustrating. [Feb 2008, p.90]

This was obviously a labor of love for the development team--something that goes beyond the nuts and bolts of typical game design. [Jan 2008, p.86]

Squad Command smartly separates the live battle scene from a comprehensive map on either of the DS's dual screens, and both stylus and button controls are intuitive. [Jan 2008, p.87]

In single-player events, the AI-controlled racers stay in such a tight pack (all three finishing within a second of each other at times) that you'll likely end up either in first place or dead last. [Jan 2008, p.89]

This is a solid game that simply doesn't do enough to separate itself from its predecessor. [Jan 2008, p.88]

Though Godzilla Unleashed is fairly accessible, even casual gamers may wonder why their creatures don't always do what they want. [Holiday 22007, p.82]

I haven't read the book, and the movie isn't out as of this writing, but based on what I've played, maybe the Golden Compass just isn't very well suited to being a video game. [Jan 2008, p.90]

The game offers a lot and it's all well-tuned. Just don't expect the publicized music element to be a big part of your playing experience. [Jan 2008, p.88]

The DS game replaces Wii shakin' with rhythmic touch-screen gestures, but otherwise it's the same characters, songs, and simplicity. [Jan 2008, p.88]

The slow decent in "Godzilla" games has finally hit rock bottom. [Jan 2008, p.89]

The game is no masterpiece, but if you're in the mood for some mindless, old-school entertainment, it's $30 well spent. [Holiday 2007, p.82]

It's too bad, though, that the game feels like it would have worked better as a side mode than as a full game (think Devil Within from Tekken 5). [Holiday 2007, p.86]

Fortunately, a great storyline makes it easy to keep going in spite of the uneven difficulty. [Holiday 2007, p.84]

Wii fans envious of their Xbox Live Arcade-playing cousins finally have something to crow about thanks to Geometry Wars: Galaxies. [Dec 2007, p.82]

If you missed out on "Trauma Center" before, this is the version to buy. If you're a series veteran, then--as good as New Blood is--it's really just more of the same, so it's your call. [Holiday 2007, p.86]

Taking your party on the road just got easy thanks to the first multiplayer portable "Mario Party" game. [Holiday 2007, p.79]

It's just too darn short--you'll probably make it through the entire single-player mode in just over an hour (add another hour to get platinum medals on every stage). [Holiday 2007, p.84]

As funny and clever as the festivities can be, they don't always equate to fun gameplay. [Holiday 2007, p.80]

There aren't very many moves to go around, so most of the characters feel the same, and the action gets repetitive faster than in the typical wrestling game. [Dec 2007, p.84]

With all of its fan service, The Umbrella Chronicles will definitely have the biggest impact on Resident Evil devotees, but the quality gunplay should satisfy just about anyone with an itchy trigger finger. [Holiday 2007, p.80]

There are also framerate and hit-detection issues (both in catching ledges and in targeting enemies) that just shouldn't exist. [Holiday 2007, p.82]

Out on the track, you'll race primarily in two modes--Grip and Drag races. Both styles give you an excellent hands-on feel that brings home the sense of speed and real-world challenge. [Holiday 2007, p.85]

Otherwise, as long as you're open to its old-school approach, Contra 4 stands as one of the year's best pure action titles. [Dec 2007, p.81]

The game is short at about five or six hours, though I suppose it doesn't matter when you tire of the proceedings after 15 minutes. [Holiday 2007, p.82]

The pleasantly surprising think about Medal of Heroes 2 is that it may be the Wii's best-controlling first-person shooter so far. [Holiday 2007, p.86]

Lack of structure aside, Cooking Mama 2 is a tasty treat. [Holiday 2007, p.82]

The diverse gameplay elements and sheer platforming joy will keep you mesmerized. [Holiday 2007, p.78]

Dragon Quest Monsters: Joker is not quite a Pokemon pretender. [Dec 2007, p.86]

While the game never really blows you away, it's hard to imagine that any fans of Mario, Sonic, or party games wouldn't be glad to have this in their collection. [Holiday 2007, p.79]

In spite of its flaws, Ontamarama is a solid rhythm game that will appeal to gamers who haven't had much to groove to on DS since last year's "Elite Beat Agents". [Holiday 2007, p.86]

It's the best it its class, and motion-control or not, it's only on Wii. [Dec 2007, p.80]

It's too bad the execution fails so miserably, because many of the ideas are great. [Holiday 2007, p.85]

Unfortunately, the story, while engaging, is predictable. [Holiday 2007, p.80]

The series' transition to the Wii has produced mixed results. [Dec 2007, p.82]

For my money, though, thanks to its strong song lineup and wireless rock capabilities--it's the perfect progression for the series. [Dec 2007, p.84]

This is one genuinely frightening experience, and the brave of heart will want to play in the dark, with headphones, for maximum scares. [Holiday 2007, p.84]

While this is still a solid game, the formula's starting to get stale. [Dec 2007, p.84]

The point-and-click adventure has gone the way of the dodo in recent years, so when one as engaging as Capcom's Zack & Wiki comes along, it's cause for celebration. [Dec 2007, p.86]

As devotees will tell you, platform action doesn't get much better than what Mega Man dishes out, and Mega Man ZX Advent lives up to that reputation. [Dec 2007, p.85]

Phoenix Wright lays down the law for the third time in two years, and the outcome is no different from before: we've got another excellent DS graphic-text adventure on our hands. [Dec 2007, p.85]

The game doesn't puch the DS; the graphics are so-so, the top screen isn't used for anything special, and the Control Pad usually works better than the stylus control. [Dec 2007, p.85]

The game is like a stark, futuristic "Advance Wars" without the happy combatants and vehicle variety. [Dec 2007, p.82]

Truly brilliant. [Sept 2007, p.88]

The strict controls make Mercury Meltdown Revolution a bit too frustrating for casual audiences. [Nov 2007, p.100]

Play Guilty Gear XX Accent Core with a GameCube or Classic controller, and you'll be treated to 2-D one-on-one fighting at its finest--beautifully animated, amazingly deep, and with more technique than the average gamer can comprehend. [Dec 2007, p.86]

Complex and intricate, with a stupefying number of cards (nearly 500) and turn phases (six), Fullmetal Alchemist Trading Card game is the victim of too many good ideas thrown into one game. [Sept 2007, p.88]

Even if the word "bleach" makes you think more cleanser than cartoon, Blade of Fate will appeal to any fan of well-executed, feature-heavy fighters. [Dec 2007, p.81]

All in all, the game would have benefited from less character and more clarity. [Aug 2007, p.88]

I give the creators props for mapping the camera controls to the remote's Control Pad(other developers take note!), but I'd be more impressed if the game were fun. [Nov 2007, p.102]

If you're as serious about your soccer as EA is, then FIFA 08 won't disappoint. [Nov 2007, p. 102]

Unfortunately, a heavy reliance on arbitrary dialogue triggers to advance the story detracts from the game; it's at its best when you're solving item-based puzzles. [Nov 2007, p.105]

To Barrel Blast's credit, it looks like there was a concerted effort to make the game look better--a smooth frame rate and some nice effects spruce up an otherwise mundane racer. [Nov 2007, p.99]

A fixed and unforgiving camera also makes the platforming experience frustrating. [Nov 2007, p.105]

Unfortunately, for all of its cool options and play modes, Power Pros fails to hit it out of the park because the on-field gameplay is disappointly simplistic and suffers from lackluster controls. [Dec 2007, p.82]

With tons of modes and options initially available and more goodies to unlock as you win races, you'll be pushing the pedal to the medal for a long time to come. [Sep 2007, p.87]

Essentially a poorly executed flat-ground version off "Tony Hawk's Downhill Jam", BMX Challenge provides very little payoff for our excitement. [Oct 2007, p.89]

Just know that it's the same Zelda you've always known and loved, and that's a good thing. [Nov 2007, p.98]

Dance Dance Revolution has been luring gamers off their sofas for years, making the franchise a perfect hit for Wii fans. [Nov 2007, p.105]

If you can preserve through one world, though, the rest of Dewy's Adventure offers a pretty good time. [Nov 2007, p.99]

Like the original GameCube "Chibi-Robo", the Chibi sequel is a leisurely affair with gentle messages. [Nov 2007, p.102]

My final analysis is this: if you love creating things and have lots of patience, MySims is worth a look, but if you're hoping for a cute virtual neighborhood to inhabit, "Animal Crossing: Wild World" is a better place to settle. [Nov 2007, p.100]

Namco Bandai's latest arcade collection contains stellar arcade hits allong with some sentimental favorites: "Pac-Man", "Galaga", "Galaxian", "Xevious", "Mappy", "The Tower of Druaga", and "Dig Dug"--all simple to learn and play and virtually impossible to master. [Nov 2007, p.105]

Sonic's become somthing of a message-board whipping boy these days, but Sonic Rush Adventure proves that the ol' hedgehog can still deliver a top-notch platformer. [Nov 2007, p.100]

The bottom line: Jungle Climber is much better than its predecessor, but it just might drive you bananas. [Nov 2007, p.104]

If you have no interest in art or DIY game design, then you should steer clear of DTL, but if you're itching to cook up some digital art, you'll have a blast. [Nov 2007, p.105]

Despite some frustratingly expert-level AI in the compute opponents, Open Warfare 2 is one you don't want squirming away from you. [Nov 2007, p.104]

Just as Garfield is not a very ambitious cat, the game does not try to reach far. But what it does do, it does well. [Oct 2007, p.89]

Few players will be patient enough to wait for the big payoff. [Sept 2007, p.89]

If you're a fan of Wii's pick-up-and-play titles, then picking up Carnival Games is a no-brainer. [Oct 2007, p.88]

When the puzzles get tough, just remember - don't panic! [Sept 2007, p.89]

What a difference half a year makes. [Nov 2007, p.104]

I'd give it a green jacket. [Nov 2007, p.104]

If you stay with the game long enough to collect bonus coins, you can unlock minigames and send them to friends via a local wireless connection: a good bonus, but probably not enough incentive to endure the rigors of the main game. [Oct 2007, p.89]

The stunning visuals and immersive gameplay of the finale to the Prime series proves that the Wii is ready for the mainstream gamer. [Oct 2007, p.86]

Unfortunately, the ambitious attempt to bring the full-fledged experience to the DS results in something of a mess. [July 2007, p.97]

The game is still fun with a group, and bowling is infinitely more entertaining with a Wii remote than with a standard controller; just don't expect the superior control of Wii Sports Bowling. [Sept 2007, p.86]

At first the game may seem to take away a little bit of control with the weapon lock-on, but in the heat of the battle you'll feel lucky that it has your back. [Oct 2007, p.89]

The game may be a little rough around the edges, but it's got heart. [Sep 2007, p.86]

Shimomura, and a lengthy story campaign make Heroes seem like a home run, and it would be if not for one flaw: Shoddy AI. [Sep 2007, p.87]

The play control is responsive, but sword swinging is hesitant and Raguna is unable to fight and walk at the same time. [Sept 2007, p.88]

Control hiccups aside, this year's Madden delivers another excellent game of pigskin. [Oct 2007, p.87]

But even with its faults, this is the best DS Madden title. [Oct 2007, p.87]

Something old, something new, something borrowed, someone blue--that's what you get in Mega Man Star Force, the latest adventure of Capcom's ever-vigilant hero. [Oct 2007, p.88]

Something old, something new, something borrowed, someone blue--that's what you get in Mega Man Star Force, the latest adventure of Capcom's ever-vigilant hero. [Oct 2007, p.88]

Something old, something new, something borrowed, someone blue--that's what you get in Mega Man Star Force, the latest adventure of Capcom's ever-vigilant hero. [Oct 2007, p.88]

Sometime during the development of EA's Boogie, it should have occured to someone that there needs to be a lot more to getting your groove on than swinging the Wii remote rhythmically in any direction. [Oct 2007, p.88]

Imagine the most intricate, feature-laden knockoff of the old arcade game "Choplifter", and you'll have an idea of what Glory Days 2 is about. [Aug 2007, p.89]